Gas generator



T. R. ERNEST.

GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 11mm. 1918.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

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THOMAS E. ERNEST, 0.1" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAS GENERATOR.

AppIication filed January 11, 1918. Serial No. 211,821.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. Ennnsr,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Generators, of which the following is a speci fication.

My invention relates to im iu'ovements in gas generators and has for its object the production of a device of this character which will be of compact and economical construction, one through the medium of which gas may be generated with great o);- pedition, and one in which a comparatively large gas storage chamber will be provided.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view, the invent-ion consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which the figure is a partially sectional side elevation of a generator embodying the invention.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawing comprises an outer cylindrical container 1, the upper end of which is closed by a cover 2, the edges of which are securely clamped in position by means of suitable clamping devices A gasket 4 is interposed between said cover and the upper edge'of the container to insure an absolutely tight or sealed connection.

Arranged within the container 1 is a second or intermediate container 5. The container 5 is open at its upper end and the same is of such a height that the upper end' of said container is in open communication with the upper end of the interior of con tainer 1. The base of container 5 is formed with an annular flange 6 which serves to hold container 5 in central position in the outer container, whereby an annular cham her is formed between the lateral walls of said containers for the reception of the chemical used in the gas generating process, when the device is in use.

Cooperating with said containers 1 and 5 is a third container 7 having an enlarged spherical upperend and a reduced clownwardly tapering lower end which passes centrally through the cover 2 into the container terminating centrally of said container little above the bottom thereof. The cover 2 is formed with a tapering seat 8 into which the lower end portion of container 7 is ground in order to form an absolutely tight connection at this point.

The cover 2 is formed also with a gas outlet opening 9 in which is snugly seated a hollow closure 10. The lower end 11 of member 10 is closed. the same constituting a container for a sealing liquid, such as water, indicated at 12. Cooperating with the end portion 11 is a capillary tube 13, one

end of said tube being sealed in one side of pass down the tube 13 and thence up through the liquid 12, which prevents too rapid eX- haust of the gas and at the same times serves to wash the same before discharge. From the upper end of member 10 leads adischarge pipe 14 in which is arranged a suitable control valve 15 Formed in container 1 adjacent the lower end thereof is also a drain opening 16, from which leadsa drain pipe 1'? controlled by a suitable valve 18.

In using the device the annular space between the lateral walls of containers 1 and 5 is first supplied with the solid or granulated chemical necessary in the production of the gas which it is desired to produce. The cover 2 is then arranged in position and the container 7 supplied with the liquid chemical necessary for reaction with the solid or granulated chemical in the production of the gas desired. As the liquid chemical is introduced into the container 7, the same will pass from the lower end thereof into the container 5, slowly rising in the latter until the pressure of the gas imprisoned in the upper end of said container and the container l prevents further rise of the liquid in said container Upon opening of the valve 15 gas will be exhausted, in which event the liquid in container 5 will rise until the same overflows the upperedge thereof and trickles down into engagement with the solid chemical in container 1. When this is done the generation of gas willcommence and as this generation progresses, the liquid in container 5 will be forced down, causing the liquid in container 7 to rise. The generated gas will thus be imprisoned or stored in the device until drawn therefrom through opening of valve 15. As the gas pressure in the device is thus decreased, the liquid in container 5 will again rise, and, if the withdrawal of gas is suflicient, will again oVerflow the top of container 5, as before described, thereby automatically replenishing the supply of gas in the device. Thus, it will be seen that a device is provided which Willbe automatic in operation, the amount of gas generated being controlled directly by the amount of'gas withdrawn. Also the arrangement is such, as will be seen, that a comparatively large gas storage chamber is rendered available, inasmuch as the size of the gas storage chamber will be determined by the level of the liquid in container 5, and such level will depend directly upon the quantity of gas generated. The employment of the capillary tube 13 with its'one end immersed in liquid, through which the gases in discharging from the device are required to pass, results in a sort of governor which prevents too rapid withdrawal of gas from the device and thus precludes the possibility of the level of the liquid chemical in the container 5 rising so rapidly as to overflow in too great quantities, as would frequently happen were the gas outlet of the device uncontrolled or entirely free upon opening of valve 15. Moreover the device is exceedingly compact and may be readily assembled or taken apart. All of the parts with the exception of the clamps 3 and gasket 4: are formed preferably of glass, although it is understood that any other suitable material maybe employed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction forcarrying my invention into effect,this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1,

' therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but

desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I 7 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: q

p 1. A gas generator comprising an outer container and a closure sealing thesame, in combination with an inner container open at its upper end and provided at its lower end with a spacing element to maintain a pocket between the sameand the wallof the outer container, and a third container. arranged above said closure and having a reduced portion extending therethrough and into the second-mentioned container, terminating in open communication therewith near the bot om t ere g nd a valve ou le for the first termediate container, substantially as described.

3. A gas chamber comprising an outer sealed container; an upwardly opening intermediate container of a size less than said outer container and enclosed therein and a base flange on the same for spacing the walls of said containers from each other to form an annular chamber around said intermediate container; and an inner container having an exteriorly positioned upper end and having its lower end open and of a diameter less than said intermediate container, said lower end ofsaid inner container entering said intermediate container and terminating adjacent the lower end thereof, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a gas generator having a discharge opening, of means for controlling the discharge of gas through said opening, said controlling means comprising 'a tubular member mounted in said opening,

said member being adapted to hold a sealing liquid; and a tube mounted in said member and having one end communicating with the interior of said chamber, said tube having a minute bore, the opposite end of said tube being immersed in the sealing liquid in said member whereby gases discharging from said chamber are required to pass through said liquid, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a gas generator having a discharge opening, ofmeans for controlling the dischargeof gas through said opening, said controlling means comprising a tubular member fitted into said opening and closed, at its lower end, said member be ing adapted to holda sealing liquid; and an inclined tube leading downwardly and inwardly from one side of said member and having aminute bore, the upper end of said tube communicating with the interior of said chamber and the lower end ofsaid tube being immersed in the sealing liquid contained in'said member'whereby gases discharging from said chamber are required to pass through said liquid, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a gas generator having a discharge opening, of means for pontrolling the discharge of ga through aid 10 ber are required to pass through said liquid;

and a valved outlet passage leading from the upper end of said member, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 15 two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS R. ERNEST. Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Po r'rs, HELEN F. LILLIS. 

